Wireless device with directional antennas for use in millimeter-wave peer-to-peer networks and methods for adaptive beam steering
First Claim
1. A method performed by a first wireless device for communicating with a second wireless device in a peer-to-peer millimeter-wave network, the method comprising:
- identifying two or more directions for communicating with the second wireless device based on receipt of beacon signals from the second wireless device through a directional antenna, the two or more directions including an initially selected direction and an alternate direction and identified prior to establishment of a link;
establishing, by the first wireless device, a link with the directional antenna in the initially selected direction with the second wireless device; and
reestablishing the link in the alternate direction with the directional antenna when the link in the initially selected direction deteriorates as indicated by the level of signals received through the directional antenna in the initially selected direction falling below a predetermined level for at least a predetermined period of time, the link being automatically reestablished in the alternate direction by performing beam steering with the directional antenna and without regard to signal quality of the link in the alternate direction at the time of reestablishment,wherein the alternate direction is a predetermined non-line of sight (NLOS) direction that is different from the initially selected direction for use in reestablishing the link over a different communication path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of wireless device and method for communicating in a wireless network are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a wireless device establishes a link using a directional antenna in an initially selected direction with another wireless device. If the link in the initially selected direction deteriorates, the link may be reestablished in a previously identified alternate direction. In some embodiments, the initially selected direction and the alternate direction are jointly selected by both the first and second wireless devices.
78 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method performed by a first wireless device for communicating with a second wireless device in a peer-to-peer millimeter-wave network, the method comprising:
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identifying two or more directions for communicating with the second wireless device based on receipt of beacon signals from the second wireless device through a directional antenna, the two or more directions including an initially selected direction and an alternate direction and identified prior to establishment of a link; establishing, by the first wireless device, a link with the directional antenna in the initially selected direction with the second wireless device; and reestablishing the link in the alternate direction with the directional antenna when the link in the initially selected direction deteriorates as indicated by the level of signals received through the directional antenna in the initially selected direction falling below a predetermined level for at least a predetermined period of time, the link being automatically reestablished in the alternate direction by performing beam steering with the directional antenna and without regard to signal quality of the link in the alternate direction at the time of reestablishment, wherein the alternate direction is a predetermined non-line of sight (NLOS) direction that is different from the initially selected direction for use in reestablishing the link over a different communication path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wireless device configured to communicate with a second wireless device in a peer-to-peer millimeter-wave network, the wireless device comprising:
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a directional antenna configurable to communicate signals within each of a plurality of directions; processing circuitry to identify two or more directions for communicating with the second wireless device based on receipt of beacon signals from the second wireless device through the directional antenna, the two or more directions including an initially selected direction and an alternate and identified prior to establishment of a link; and a millimeter-wave transceiver to establish a link with the directional antenna in the initially selected direction with the second wireless device and to reestablish the link in the alternate direction with the directional antenna when the link in the initially selected direction deteriorates as indicated by the level of signals received through the directional antenna in the initially selected direction falling below a predetermined level for at least a predetermined period of time, the link being automatically reestablished in the alternate direction by performing beam steering with the directional antenna and without regard to signal quality of the link in the alternate direction, wherein the alternate direction is a predetermined non-line of sight (NLOS) direction that is different from the initially selected direction for use in reestablishing the link over a different communication path. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Network interface circuitry for configuring a first wireless device to communicate with a second wireless device using a directional antenna in a peer-to- peer millimeter-wave network, the network interface circuitry comprising:
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processing circuitry to initially identify two or more directions for communicating with the second wireless device based on receipt of beacon signals from the second wireless device through the directional antenna, the two or more directions including an initially selected direction and an alternate direction and determined prior to establishment of a link; and a millimeter-wave transceiver to establish a link with the directional antenna in the initially selected direction with the second wireless device and to reestablish the link with the directional antenna in the alternate direction if the link in the initially selected direction deteriorates as indicated by the level of signals received through the directional antenna in the initially selected direction falling below a predetermined level for at least a predetermined period of time, the link being automatically reestablished in the alternate direction by performing beam steering with the directional antenna and without regard to signal quality of the link in the alternate direction, wherein the alternate direction is a predetermined non-line of sight (NLOS) direction that is different from the initially selected direction for use in reestablishing the link over a different communication path. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification